Road & Track handling test summary

This summer, MINI USA is running a MINI Test Drive Takedown campaign which compares the six MINI models against their competitors. Here at the Library of Motoring we are going to do the same using published facts and figures. Today we have the first of the series.

In the back pages of every issue of Road & Track magazine you’ll find their Road Test Summary. They test mostly performance cars for acceleration, top speed, braking, and handling. In March 2012, they tested both the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe and the MINI Cooper S (Hardtop). The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman was tested in January 2012.

Because handling is what MINIs are well-known for, this summary is focused on that category. Road & Track tests handling on the skidpad and slalom:

HANDLING is quantified two ways: The skidpad measures steady-speed cornering grip around a 200-ft.-diameter circle (run in both directions). The slalom, run through eight cones spaced at 100-ft. intervals, samples both controllability and grip during transient handling.Significant difference: Skidpad, 0.02 g; slalom, 1.0 mph.

The table below is arranged by slalom speed with the fastest at the top. It includes a sampling of performance cars all costing more than the MINI JCW Coupe’s as-tested price (except for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution SE) and all with much higher horsepower. As you can see from the figures, the MINIs are in impressive company with the JCW Coupe especially standing out in the list.

Road & Track handling test summary

Make & Model

Price as
Tested

Power,
hp

Torque,
lb-ft

Skidpad,
g

Slalom,
mph

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

$260,980

620

516

1.02

75.9

Nissan GT-R

$95,280

545

463

0.97

75.0

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

$98,010

505

470

1.06

74.1

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

$157,670

430

361

0.97

73.7

Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

$98,110

600

560

1.12

73.4

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

$50,460

335

332

0.95

73.4

Lotus Evora S

$88,795

345

295

0.99

73.1

MINI JCW Coupe

$38,850

208

192

0.91

71.8

Subaru Impreza WRX Sti Limited

$39,870

305

290

0.91

70.9

Audi TT RS

$61,125

360

343

0.95

70.7

Jaguar XKR-S

$132,875

542

502

0.91

70.7

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution SE

$36,550

291

300

0.97

70.2

Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV

$480,325

670

487

0.97

70.0

Ford Shelby GT500

$55,330

550

510

1.01

69.9

Nissan Nismo 370Z

$39,540

350

276

0.93

69.9

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

$2,765,840

1184

1106

0.99

69.6

MINI Cooper S

$29,700

181

177

0.90

69.4

MINI JCW Clubman

$35,350

208

192

0.87

69.3

Ferrari California

$200,822

453

358

0.96

69.2

Cheverolet Camaro SS Convertible

$42,180

426

420

0.89

68.4

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

$143,460

518

465

0.89

66.6

We will have more comparisons in the coming weeks.

2 thoughts on “Road & Track handling test summary”

1 Series M : ah yes, if I could save save, nice choice
JCW Coupe: sweet! the first ‘affordable’ car, but dang, a bit small…
WRX: there we go, decent daily driver and look at those nice stats! but I don’t want a WRX STi so let’s keep going…
Audi TT RS: “woah, when did they get so pricey! Oh, an RS…”
Mitsu Evo: like WRX, but… I’m a grown up now…
Nismo… see Evo and WRX
Veyron: yeah, I could sell my children… moving on
MCS: ah, yes, affordable and on the list! nice… but…
JCW Clubman: oh look! There we have it! Great price, plays in the big boy league here…